Building or paving block.



PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904.

W. H. REIPF.

BUILDING 0R PAVING BLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, 1903- NO MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented November 8, 1904.

PATENT EETcE.

BUILDING OR PAVING BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 774,276, dated November 8, 1904,

Application filed May 16, 1903. Serial No. 157,503. (No model.)

0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, l/VILLIAM H. REIFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Building or Paving Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in building and paving blocks, and has for its object to construct building and paving blocks of artificial-stone material, such as cement and the like, and these blocks are so formed as to fit one in the other, so that the blocks will be held in place and perfectly level.

\Vith these ends in view this invention consists in the details of construction and com bination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claim.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whicl1- Figure l is a plan view of a number of my improved building-blocks fitted together; Fig. 2, an end view of three of the blocks fitted together; Fig. 3, a similar View to Fig. 2,

showing the blocks made with an opening therethrough to lighten the blocks and 7 give ventilation to the walls constructed of the same; Fig. 4, a section through Fig; 3; Fig. 5, an end view showing how my blocks could be utilized in constructing an arch.

A represents the blocks, the ends B of each block being made vertical and flat; but one side of each block is provided with a protruding nose C, which nose is formed by an inclined surface D, extending from the outsidesurface of the block outward and, then turning and forming a horizontal surface E and then extending in a straight line F to the inner surface of the block. The other side of the block is provided with a groove or recess Gr, corresponding in outline to the nose or ledge upon the opposite side of the block. Therefore one block may be fitted into another, and when all of these blocks are fitted together none of the blocks can be forced outward or upward on account of each block being held down upon one side by the nose C of the next block and upon the other side by means of the inclined surface D coming in contact with the inclined surface upon the next block upon that side, and when the blocks are laid so as to break joints, as shown in Fig. 1, each block extends across a portion of two other blocks upon each side, and therefore forms apavement or wall which is extremely secure and in which the blocks cannot be forced out from any cause whatsoever.

In using the blocks for wall construction it is in many cases advantageous to have the blocks made hollow for ventilation and lightness, and therefore blocks used for this purpose may have openings Gr formed through the same from end to end, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. These blocks could also be used for archwork the same as ordinary blocks or blocks of stone, and the projections and recesses in each block would work together so as to hold the blocks in place the same as when they were laid exactly vertical or horizontal.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction here shown, as slight modifications could be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is A building and paving block, comprising a body having sides, top and bottom plain and having its ends at right angles to the bottom for a portion of its height, one of said ends having an inwardly-curved shoulder terminating in a curved recess,'the said end from the recess to the top being beveled outwardly, the opposite end of the block having a nose with its lower surface approximately at right angles to the end, the said nose at its end being rounded and merging with an inwardlybeveled upper edge of the end, substantially as described, the ends of one block being adapted to interlock with the ends of other blocks and overlap When placed to form an arch.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto at fixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses WILLIAM H. REIFF.

\Vitnesses:

L. WV. MoRRIsoN, H. B. HALLooK. 

